This is an update from my new friend MaryAlice. She's one of those saints that God uses just to spur me on more and more in the ministry that He has appointed for me...as I witness how He works through her in such an extreme environment.
MaryAlice works in prison ministry, and is so faithful in the midst of many different types of opposition and trial.
I've only included part of her letter today, but I hope and pray that it inspires you and deeply impacts your heart as it has mine.
Don't miss her closing. Love it!!!!
Love you too!
Jes
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:30-32
Dear Praying Friends,
Marta's story is the perfect example of Christ's forgiveness and it came to fruition just at the right time in our forgiveness study! I love the way God does these things!
Just to fill you in...Marta's sentence is 25 years to life. When you have an "L" (to life) at the end of your sentence , as they say, you can know you will probably never be released and certainly never see a parole date!
Marta was a scout leader, a PTA member, attended church regularly and sang in the church choir. But she had a secret drinking problem. She shared with me that the Lord had warned her on a couple of occasions that she had better stop, but she didn't listen. As a result of driving drunk, Marta killed a young family of four. Marta died at the scene 2 times herself and she was pretty mangled but God had another plan for Marta! The young family she killed were Christians.
Everyone from all sides were impacted with incredible hurt and pain, the victim's family, Marta's husband, who has left her, their son and daughter and Marta's parents. Since being in prison, she has received pictures of her children's graduation and announcements both from grade school and high school. Of course, she could not attend. The saddest thing I've seen is when she showed me a photo copy of her daughter's engagement ring and a swatch of material from the wedding gown, with a picture of it torn from a brides magazine. So sad... she had to wait for a few weeks for the pictures to arrive of the event that every mother dreams of being involved in!
Marta's son, however, is not so accepting of his mom. He is ashamed of her and will not make contact with her. He is a soldier in Afghanistan Marta's mom keeps her up to date concerning him. She was told he doesn't want ANY contact with her.
Marta has never tried to fight her case. (Unlike EVERYONE else...looking for a loop hole in the law library and filing a petition for a writ of habeas corpus ) She felt she should be where she is and there is no way to "fix" what has happened. She has received God's forgiveness, and has asked the victim's family for forgiveness also. Marta has lived quietly in prison, studying God's word, encouraging others, serving in the Chapel and growing in knowing how great our God really is and contented to live this life in prison. Like the woman with the alabaster vial of perfume in Luke 7:36-39. Just forever grateful to her Master for saving her!
When I came into Chapel, everyone was soooo excited to tell me that Marta had a parole board hearing. She didn't tell anyone she was scheduled for the hearing. (The inmates usually request prayer for their hearing dates) AND the victim's relatives were there....on both sides of the family...they told the parole board that this woman had served long enough. They have forgiven her, she has obviously changed in 14 years and enough is enough...please let her go. Marta was given a parole date, she should be released in 18 months!
Marta's response was gratitude that the family had peace and were not suffering from bitterness. Everyone else's response was...praising God with ecstatic joy!!!! Lesson clear...class excused!
Serving Him because I get to....
MaryAlice
A bondservant of the Lord Jesus Christ
Set apart for the gospel of God
Precious Friends,
This note was written by Mary Alice, a dear woman I don't think I've ever met face to face, but through whose letters I am DRIVEN to know the Word better, and to carry it deeper, that others may be set free from their prisons, just like I was set free from the one of my own making.
Free Indeed! Thank God Almighty, I know the Truth, and the Truth has set me free!
May you be blessed, convicted if need be, and DRIVEN into the Word of God.
Get the tissue box. Don't say I didn't warn you!
Love you today,
Jes
Like cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a distant land. Proverbs 25:25
Dear Praying Friends,
The afternoon class was so excited to get started, they crowded around me like little hungry children as they came in with stories of how they made it to class and "do you have a pencil I can borrow' and "I couldn't bring anything through work exchange, do you have any paper I can use?" "Can we keep the books?" "Do I get one?"
"Please sit down, and we will get started," I chuckled.
As eager eyes watched me pull out the books, I explained they had to earn the books by perfect attendance and participating in class for a few weeks. "I do not have enough books for everyone, but if we all have a Bible, we will be fine, I encouraged.
I informed the students that this was primarily a Spanish study, but the English students could join us. I had underestimated the response to this class. I have 30 books in English and 40 translated copies in Spanish. I have over 100 students....oops! This class is 90 percent new to studying God's word! The old-timers (student that have been with me before) will gladly give up their books because they realize the book is not all important; it's what is learned and applied that is important! (But when in prison, there are few possessions, and these lovely books are a treasure.)
As the ladies learned how to study inductively and investigate the Scriptures, the excitement grew even greater. We are studying forgiveness. At the end of class, two eager students in the front row were amazed how awful and dysfunctional Joseph's family was. "What? Are you kidding me? They threw Joseph in a pit? They sold him? Well, that dad should never have showed favoritism...He was just wrong for doing that!"
On the way out I heard one of them say, "I'm gonna read ahead in Genesis 37 and get the rest of this story!...Hey Miss MaryAlice, is it ok if we read ahead?!"
I held back my burst of laughter until they left the room, "Well, if you wanna cheat, ok," I teased. "Of course you may read ahead in the Bible anytime! You don't need my permission!"
How precious they are and how humbling this service is He has given us. That's why it's so important you know what's going on, so you know your prayers are necessary. New believers and malnourished believers (those who have studied little) and seekers are easy prey for the enemy.
Now for the night class...They too were excited and most were well prepared! The old-timers in this class were like horses at the starting gate...raring to go! I had to hold them back so the newcomers could join in! And that's hard to do in a class of over a 100 students! We are studying Deuteronomy, as you recall, and in the first lesson I brought in a little review of the previous studies. I could have leaped off the stage with excitement as they recalled and fitted together past studies. It was just downright excitin'!
Vanessa was there, front row center. Still looking downcast, but no cuts. We had so much territory to cover I did not have time to speak with her. Please continue praying for her.
Melvenia is harboring unforgiveness, we discovered. She is wrestling with it along with menopause. Please pray she humbles herself this week.
All yards were released this week. Last week, C yard, was not released and the ladies were very discouraged. Please pray all yards get released. Many times the inmates stand out in the cold for half an hour to get released and the guards turn them back due to a short amount of staff or a fight or something! Many have told me they want to cry. (Of course, in prison you learn to suck back the tears...it's a sign of weakness to cry. You will get picked on or beat up if you do. It's only safe to cry in the Chapel. And they hide it when they do.)
Thank you again dear friends for joining me in this fertile ministry God has given us.
Your Fellow Servant,
Mary Alice
A bondservant of Jesus Christ
Set apart for the gospel of God
